National Museum of Korea

National Museum of Korea Seoul Reviews

This museum came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint! First of all, it is huge, so set aside a whole afternoon to see everything. While this location may have the most extensive collection of Korean historical artifacts, it's not limited to Korea. There are exhibits from other parts of Asia and beyond. Entrance is free, and there are audio guides for hire. There are also English-guided tours available if you ask the front desk. I found that the information available made any guide seem unnecessary.

The exhibits are divided into three floors. On the first floor, you can see artifacts from prehistoric Korea, and from each of the many ruling dynasties and kingdoms (Joseon, Shilla, Goryeo, etc...). On the first floor, there are also rotating exhibits on display. At the time of writing, there was an exhibit of African art from the Congo river. On the second and third floors you can find furniture, calligraphy, Buddhist art, porcelain, and metal crafts, and also artifacts from other parts of Asia. Everything has excellent signage in English.

Though there is no food allowed in the museum, there is a coffee shop on the second floor and a traditional tea house on the third floor. You can also store any bags or heavy coats you might have in lockers near the entrance. It costs 100 won and you get your money back when you retrieve your belongings.

Probably the only place that's extensive on Korean historyNov 27, 2012

Having the most extensive collection on Korean history, the National Museum of Korea is well worth the time. And what makes it better, is that it’s free.

Located near the Ichon stop, it is a little bit of walk to get to the museum building. There are plaques on the ground, that point the way to the entrance. In front of it, is a pond with a pagoda in the middle of it, which looks nice!

The museum goes through the history of Korea, on the 1st floor, starting from the prehistoric age. There are good English descriptions, telling the history, along with the artifacts from that period, on display. The museum also goes into the Three Kingdoms period, followed by the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) and then the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). And each of those section have their own sub-sections.

Other highlights is on the 3rd floor, with Buddhist art on display. And there is one section there, where there are art from other parts of Asia. There are paintings on the 2nd floor, but I did not get to see that.

Overall, this museum should be visited, being the only museum in the world, that mainly focuses on Korean art and history, with its vast collection.